Labeling apparatus



Aug. 22, 1939 B. E; TAYLOR ET AL LABELING APPARATUS Filed J ul-y 1, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 RNEY R O L RM WT ma VT N R U YJOHH N. Mc CLRTCHIE Aug. 22, 1939 B. E. TAYLOR ET AL 2,170, 8

LABELING APPARATUS Filed July 1, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY BURT E. TAYLOR JOHN .Ik LATCHIE l l l l l I I I l If g- 1939 B. E. TAYLOR ET AL 2,170,063

LABELING APPARATUS H Filed July 1, 1937 v v s Sheets-Sheet a 5 L TIJ u I] [I [I [I [I 51] [I [I [I [I I], [I If] I] f3 L y l v I n 55 2'8 ll an 1 1 1 1 u H 1 1m5 j INVENTOR BURT E. TAYLOR A ORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES LABELING APPARATUS Burt E. Taylor, Mount Vernon, and John M. McClatchie, Middletown, N. Y., assignors to The Borden Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 1, 1937, Serial No. 151,408

9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus and method for labeling articles, particularly containers such as cans. More particularly, the invention concerns apparatus for applying outse-rts or labels automatically, accurately, and rapidly tothe tops of articles such as cans.

Difliculty has been encountered heretofore in providing an apparatus for securing labels accurately to the tops of cans at a high rate of speed. In machines of this nature, the labels should be selected one at a time from a stack or supply thereof and transferred'and applied to the articles successively. It is desirable to have as high a percentage of articles emerging from such a machine properly labeled as possible and the efficiency of the machine is: largely dependent on the speed at which it can be operated to perform these operations successfully.

One object of our invention is to provide improved apparatus for automatically applying and securing labels or outserts to articles in a rapid and efiicient manner.

Another object of our invention is the provision of highly efficient apparatus and method for removing labels or outserts, one at a time, from a stack thereof and transferring and securing the labels or outserts' accurately to an article.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the handling and application of labels in a rapid manner without damage to the labels.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be referred to and will become apparent from the description of one embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine in accordance with our invention for applying labels or outserts successively to cans.

Figure 2is a vertical sectional view through the machine illustrated in Figure 1 and taken on the oifs'et line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view on a larger scale of a portion of the machine illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view partly in section illustrating the operation of the portion of the machine of Figure 1 which removes labels from a stack and transfers and secures them to successive cans.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a detail taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, numeral l0 designates the frame of a labeling machine which is provided at one end with a chute H for delivering cans or other articles tothe top of the frame It. The chute may be curved to deliver the cans in an upright position and is preferably arranged at right angles to the main portion of frame In. The top of frame H1 is provided with a pair of fiat plates |2 extending the length of the machine and spaced from each other to provide a central opening l3. Attached to the plates l2, as by bolts I la, are a pair of angle irons |4 arranged to provide between their vertical faces a passageway for a series of cans W. The cans are delivered by the chute ||at right angles to this passageway formed between the angle irons l4 and are moved along on the plates I2 between the angle irons M by the spaced studs l6 fixed to an endless conveyor Endless conveyor H, which may be a chain, is passed around an idler sprocket l8 fixed to the shaft l9, and shaft I9 is rotatably supported in suitable bearings at one end of the frame Ill. The other end of the conveyor I1 is carried by the sprocket which is fixed to shaft 2|. Shaft 2| is suitably supported for rotation at the other end of the frame l0 and carries at one end the worm wheel 22 arranged to mesh with and be driven by a worm 23 fixed to counter shaft 24. The counter shaft 24 may be rotatably mounted in bearings 25, and driven by the belt 26 and pulley 21 from a suitable source of power (not shown). The other end of the driven shaft 2| has a gear 23 keyed thereto which meshes with a gear 29 fixed to a reversing shaft 30 arranged parallel to shaft-52L Reversing shaft 30 is provided with a sprocket 3| which rotates the shaft 32 by means of the sprocket 33 and chain 34 in an opposite direction to that of shaft 2 I.

At one end, shaft 32 is provided with another sprocket 35 which serves to drive the shaft 36 through sprocket 31 carried thereby and the chain 38. Shaft 32 has fixed thereto, at its forward end, the label' or outsert applying wheel 39 which is rotated synchronously with the adhesive applying wheel 40 fixed to shaft 36. Also fixed to shaft 36 alongside of the adhesive wheel 40 is a gear 4| meshing with gear 42, the latter being mounted on shaft 43. Adhesive or other liquid is supplied to the wheel 40 by the roll 44 also fixed to shaft 43. Roll 44 is preferably partially submerged in the adhesive pot or reservoir 45 and the amount of liquid supplied may be regulated by aplate 45a.. 0 a

The operation of the machine as thus far described is, in general, as follows: The endless conveyor I! for advancing the cans I5 is driven by belt 26 and pulley 21 from the source of power (not shown). Shaft 2|, driving conveyor also rotates the reversing shaft 30 by means of gears 28 and 29 and this reversing shaft in turn through suitable sprockets serves to rotate synchronously the label applying Wheel 39 and the adhesive applying wheel 40. Adhesive may be applied to the projections 46 on the adhesive wheel by means of the roll 44 which dips into the adhesive reservoir 45 and is positively driven by gears 4| and 42 from the shaft 36 carrying the adhesive wheel 40. It will thus be seen that, as viewed in Figure 1, the cans l5 move from right to left a purpose to be described later.

at the same time that wheels 39 and 49 rotate in a clockwise direction at the same peripheral speed as the lineal speed of the cans. Adhesive is thus successively applied to the cans l5 as they passunder wheel 49 and labels are removed one at a time from the rack 4'! by the wheel 39 and applied to the adhesive treated surface ofthe cans l5.

The label applying wheel 39 preferably comprises a metal sleeve 48 fitting on shaft 32 and having a radially extending flange 49, the whole of which may be fixed to shaft 32 by the set screw 59. A central annular plate 5| of some resilient material such as sponge rubber is pro vided with cut-away portions 52, leaving a plurality of radially extending label carrying and applying heads 53. The forward portions of each of these heads may be provided with radially ex tending openings 54 into which .are fitted metal tubes 59a. The metal tubes 54a are provided with elbow sections 55, parallel to the shaft 32, which extend through openings 56 in the flange 49. The outer ends of the tubes 54a are cut off short of the outer face of the projections 53 and the annular rubber member 5| carrying these tubes is preferably clamped tightly against the flange 49 as by means of a washer member 5? and bolts 58.

The inner face 59 of the flange 49 is preferably smooth and is adapted to have the disc 69 bear against it. The disc 69 is adjustably held against rotation in any suitable position by means of the strap 68 (Figs. 2 and 4) rotatably connected to stud 62 on disc 69 and having its other end bolted to frame In so that it may be adjusted by loosening and tightening the bolt 63. The disc 69 may be pressed against the inner face of flange 49 by means of a coil spring 64. In its upper portion, disc 99 is provided with an opening 65 connected to the vacuum tube 66. The outer end of vacuum tube 66 may be connected to a suitable source of suction (not shown) in any desirable manner. Near the bottom of disc fillyan opening 9'3 is provided entirely through the disc for The face of the disc 9!) bearing against the face '59 of the flange 49 is provided with an arcuate shallow groove 69 extending from the opening 65 to a point 69 just short of the opening 61 in the lower portion of the disc 69.

The labels or outserts to be applied are supported on a plate 10 fixed to frame It! in any suitable manner and by the vertical straps H attached to this plate I9 which comprise the rack 4'1. Plate 19 may advantageously be formed with a central opening 10a through which the heads 53 of the labeling wheel 39 may pass into contact with the lowermost label in the rack 41. The stack of labels 18 between the straps H is preferably tilted toward the label applying wheel, by means of a small bar 12. Straps H are preferably surrounded by one or more bands 13 and made adjustable to support difierent sized labels, as by means of the screws 74 .and 15; At the right hand side of the rack 41, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4, a vertically movable slide '19 is mounted carrying a narrow brush 11. When the lowermost of the labels 18 is being removed from the stack by the label applying wheel 39, this brush ll serves to prevent the other labels from sliding forward. Also mounted for vertical .adjustment on the forward strap H is a slide19, having at its lower end a curved guard member of arcuate shape'arranged to correspond to the curve of the projections 53 on the label applying wheel 39.

The operation of the label applying wheel 39 is as follows: As the wheel is rotated, the opening in the forward portion of one of the heads 53 on the label applying wheel 39 arrives at a position where it communicates through the portion 55 of the metal tube 54a and the opening 95 in disc 69 with the vacuum supplying tube 66. The forward end of one of the labels is thus pulled down or pried away from the stack of labels I8 and then further separated from the stack by a sliding movement as the wheel continues its rotation. The label thus selected is carried around by wheel 39 inside the guard member .99. More than one label in the stack is prevented from sliding forward by the brush H. While this label is being carried around inside the guard member 89, the suction from the tube 66 is maintained through the groove 68 in the disc 69 until the opening 56 passes the point 69 on the disc 99. By this time the forward edge of the label has been accurately located on the can l5, which has been advancing at the same lineal speed as the peripheral speed of the head 53, and as soon as the forward end of the label has been thus located on the can the elbow 56 reaches the vacuum breaking hole 61 in the disc releasing the label. As the wheel rotates further and the can advances, the remaining portion of the label is securely rolled in place by the remainder of the rubber head 53.

An automatic cut-off for the suction line may be provided to take care of any failure or interruption in the feeding of cans. Of course, if there is an empty space on the conveyor H, the adhesive applying members 46 will not contact anything and no adhesive will be lost or misplaced. Should this portion of the conveyor I! arrive at the label applying wheel however, without any special provision being made, a label would be dropped in the empty space, probably interfering with the subsequent operation of the machine. We prefer, therefore, to connect the vacuum tube 69 to the tube 8| at one side of the switch 82, the tube 83 at the other side of the switch being connected to the source of vacuum (not shown). Switch 82 is made up of a base member having a rotatable disc 84 accurately seated therein which is provided on its lower face with an arcuate groove 85 of an extent slightly greater than a semi-circle. When the disc 84 is in the proper position, this groove 85 serves to connect the tubes BI and 83. Disc 84 may be held in the base 82 by means of the bolt 86 and is preferably provided with a coil return spring 81. One side of the disc 94 has fixed thereto an operating arm 88 adapted to be contacted by each of the cans l5 approaching the label applying wheel 39. s

As the cans approach the label wheel, this arm 88 is deflected, allowing the suction to be applied from the tube 83 through the groove 95 and the tube 8! to the tube 65. Should. a can be omitted. the suction will not be turned on and no label will be picked up at this time by the label applying wheel 39. It will be clear that the cnt-off switch for turning on the suction is operated by each can l5 and that this switch will operated by any given can while the corresponding head 53 on wheel 39 is in a position to pick up a label for that can. Should the suction not be turned on, it will not interfere with the application of a label to the preceding can because that label will be held in place on the wheel 39 by the guard 89,

Although the wheel 40 has been described for applying adhesive to the articles to be labeled, this wheel 40 may be used to moisten the tops of the articles if gummed labels or labels carrying some other adhesive are to be employed.

The action of the labeling wheel in picking off the labels from the stack by applying suction to the front portion of the label to be selected is especially helpful in ensuring the selection of only one label at a. time and in preventing the next label from being moved out of place in the stack. Furthermore, since the heads 53 on the labeling wheel 39 carry the labels at their forward ends, the front end of the label is positively and accurately located on the can before the remainder of the label is rolled down and no air is trapped under the applied label. Provision is thus made for accurately positioning the labels on the cans even though the machine be operated at high speeds. The use of label carrying and applying projections 53 on the wheel 39 of some resilient material such as rubber is also particularly helpful in securing a firm an- 'chorage of the labels to the cans, even though the machine is operated at a high speed. This arrangement also makes allowance automatically for small variations in height in the articles.

Various modifications of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings may be made. For example, the apparatus may be made adjustable for use with articles of different heights. The angle irons l4 may also be adjustably secured to the frame to provide for labeling articles of different width.

The terms and expressions which we have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and we have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

We claim:

1. Labeling apparatus comprising conveying means for moving a plurality of articles along a given path, means for holding labels, a labeling wheel provided with suction gripping means for transferring labels from said holding means to said articles, and a curved guard member for holding a label against said gripping means during said transfer for protecting a label carried by said wheel.

2. Labeling apparatus comprising a label holder, a labeling wheel having a plurality of heads for removing labels from said holder, said wheel being arranged to slide a label out of said holder edgewise, and stationary brush means, associated with said holder substantially at right angles to the labels therein for preventing the removal of more than one label at a time.

3. Labeling apparatus comprising a label holder, a labeling wheel having a plurality of heads provided with suction gripping means in the forward portions thereof for removing labels from said holder, said wheel being arranged to slide a label out of said holder edgewise, brush means associated with said holder for preventing the removal of more than one label at a time, and guard means for holding a removed label on said suction gripping means and for protecting labels carried by said wheel from the time said labels are removed from the holder until they are applied.

4. In a labeling machine, a labeling wheel comprising a plurality of rotatable label carrying heads having a vacuum ports therein, a non-rotatable member arranged to bear against a side of said Wheel, and having an opening therein connected to a vacuum producing means, and means associated with said heads during rotation thereof for operatively connecting said vacuum ports to said opening for predetermined intervals.

5. In a labeling machine, a labeling Wheel comprising a plurality of rotatable label carrying heads having vacuum pots therein, a non-rotatable member arranged to bear against a side of said Wheel, and having an opening therein connected to a vacuum producing means, means for adjusting the position of said member by rotation thereof, and means associated with said heads during rotation thereof for operatively connecting said vacuum ports to said opening for predetermined intervals.

6. In a labeling machine, a labeling wheel comprising a plurality of rotatable label carrying heads having vacuum ports therein, a non-rotatable member arranged to bear against a side of'said wheel having an opening therein connected to a vacuum producing means and a separate opening communicating with the atmosphere, means for holding said member in any one of several rotatably adjusted positions, and means associated with said heads during rotation thereof for operatively connecting said vacuum ports successively to said opening for predetermined intervals.

7. In apparatus of the character described conveying means for moving articles along a given path, a label holder, a labeling wheel for removing labels from said holder and applying them to the moving articles, means in advance of said Wheel for applying adhesive to said articles, vacuum operated means associated with said wheel .for gripping said labels, and means operated by each article in advance of receiving a label for operatively connecting said vacuum operated means to a vacuum producing device.

8. A labeling machine comprising means for conveying a succession of spaced articles having indented surfaces for receiving labels, means for applying adhesive to the indented surfaces on said articles, a label holder, a labeling wheel for removing labels from said holder and applying them to said surfaces comprising a body of resilient material having a plurality of projecting heads spaced around said wheel, suction ports in the forward portions. of said heads, brush means adjacent one side of said holder to prevent the removal therefrom of more than. one label at a time, and guard means for holding a label on one of said heads while said label is being carried from said holder to said article.

9. In a labeling apparatus, a labeling wheel comprising a metal body having a flange, a body of resilient material having a plurality of label gripping head portions provided with vacuum ports in the outer surface thereof, means for clamping said body of resilient material against said flange, and a non-rotatable member adjacent said flange connected to a vacuum producing device, said ports communicating at intervals during the rotation of said wheel with said member through openings in said flange.

BURT E. TAYLOR. JOHN M. MCCLATCHIE. 

